Flip and Eclipse

I have finally seen Eclipse and let me tell you it was awesome! I wish I had a better word to use than awesome, but at the moment I can't find one.

The night started off with dinner at FLIP, it's a burger joint in town owned by Top Chef's Richard Blaze. I was really excited about trying their food, but was unfortunately quite disappointed. Perhaps I had too great of expectations. The restaurant was really cute and trendy, although being super loud. Thank goodness we didn't sit inside because I think I literally would have had to yell across the table to talk to my friends. That being said.. I ordered the shrimp po'boyger with a side Caesar salad and to drink a Nutella and Marshmallow shake. Lets start with the good. The salad was very good, although I'm still not quite sure why they had a 1/4 oz of saffron piled on top. I like saffron as much as the next person, but it just seemed expensive (on there end) and unnecessary. The shrimp burger was a little too bland and the roll had so much of the ailoi on it my bun was very soggy, making it very difficult to eat. I tried one of my friends French Fries, they fry everything in duck fat so I thought they would be really good and crispy. They were not bad, but not was I was expecting, again soggy. But the shake was sooo disappointing. It was not really thick or cool, the flavor was nice and rich, but I want a shake that is to thick its hard to suck through a straw. I will say that the toasted marshmallows on top were a nice touch. I think I would have been happier with a burger from 5 guys and a milkshake from Steak and Shake.





But after that bummer of a meal..we went to Atlantic station for ECLIPSE. It was so good. It really puts the two previous movies to shame. Based on the trailer I thought it would be all action and no romance, and I couldn't have been more mistaken. It was Edward and Jacob at their best, and most of all Hilarious. I was enthralled the whole time, especially when Jacob was on screen. (TEAM JACOB)! If you haven't seen it yet, its a must see movie this summer. Go for it!

What Changed?

I must have been a pretty naive girl growing up. I honestly always thought that with enough hard work, dedication and a little divine intervention that anything I wanted was possible. Something must have changed along the way because I am always second guessing everything, worrying all the time and instead of planning on doing something, I automatically insist I can't.

So today I got a call from someone I work with saying that Top Chef is now casting for a new show .. Top Pastry Chef. I tried out last season for regular Top Chef but did not have a video.. which turned out was a good thing because after seeing this season of Top Chef I am sure I would have been booted off quick. Now as these auditions approach all I can think of is, "why bother you wouldn't win", "your good but your not that good". The old me wouldn't have given it a second thought, I would have done it with my "expect the worst, hope for the best" attitude. But what should I do? I wish I was as fearless as I once was. Won't someone please tell me what changed?

Restaurant Wars

Its been a while since I posted something about Top Chef. This season has been great so far, the only thing that can really be said right now, is that there are very clear strong chefs and very clear weak chefs. Tonight, in my opinion, was one of the best episodes I have seen yet. I was on the edge of my couch all evening watching.

It started out with the drawing of knifes and then a tag team cook-off challenge. Mike Volt and Jen got the knifes where they go to pick their team mates. Team 1 - Jen, Kevin, Mike Isabella, and Laurene. Team 2 - Robin, Eli and the bros Volt.

The challenge.. each team has 40 minutes .. each team mate 10 minutes to cook, and while the others await their chance to cook they must wear blindfolds. Thus to ensure they have no idea what the previous team mate has prepped for them. It was such a cool challenge. Just to watch what each person does and then to watch the next chefs reaction when they try to figure out what is going on when they get to the prep table.

Ultimately team 1 takes down the win and I really agree that they had the right strategy with the order in which they cooked.

For the elimination challenge.. here it is folks..next to the finale its the most anticipated episode of the seasons.. RESTAURANT WARS! The teams are the same. Revolt (thats the name of the bros. restaurant) is INSANE! I meant that in a great way! The chefs all put up really strong dishes and Mike Volt looked HOT doing it! I get that most people probably think his attitude is something similar to Stephan from season 5, but let me tell you.. Amanda likey! I think being confident and talented is tres sexy! When Michael Volt started fighting with Robin I was cheering him on. Robin seriously needs to go, she has ridden the coat tails of everyone on that show all season and I am annoyed just looking at her. AHHH! Bryan Volt has a solid entree and what appeared to be a delicious dessert.. can't go wrong with mint ice-cream. As for Eli, the diners seemed to enjoy him as maitre'd.

As for the other team, they weren't so fortunate. Naming their restaurant Mission was probably the only decent thing they did unless their 'Mission' was to run the restaurant into the ground. Which they would have totally succeeded at. Laurene was in charge of FOH, while Jen picked up 2 fish courses, Kevin had 2 entrees and SEXY MIKE ISABELLA (SMI) did the first 2 courses. Nothing this team did was good although SMI did good enough to be off the judges radar to avoid going home. Mistakes made- broken sauces, undercooked lamb, under seasoned everything, and a front of the house manager who hid in the back while the diners needed attention and explanation. Truth be told if I were her I would have hidden to.

Clearly the winner is REVOLT, which made the diners want to to anything but revolt. Best in the history of the show! Mike Volt takes the win and in a generous move decided to split the money with his team mates. Classy Mike, I heart you!

As for the losers.. I honestly felt for all of them. Its no fun to stand in front of people while they pick apart your food and tell you what you already know (which is you F*&%ed up!). All you can do in that situation is stand there, embarrassed and recognize your mistakes. Going home tonight.. Laurene. Honestly it was either Jen or her and Laurene had all the mistakes of the FOH on her shoulders + a poor dish = going home.


Auf Wiedersehen Laurene.

Vivre le France!!!! Vivre Top Chef!

TGIW! Happy Hump Day People! Are you ready for some Top Chef! Oui! Oui!

Oh I'm so happy... tonight the chef-testants will pair up to create the perfect French dish for acclaimed chefs Joël Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, Hubert Keller ( a personal favorite of mine), Laurent Tourondel and Jean Joho.

Escargot! For the quickfire challenge today each chef must make a dish using this delicate protein. In a special twist.. one contestant will be eliminated after this quickfire. OHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Some amazing dishes were produced.. but taking the win was Kevin. I can't say I'm surprised, His fricassee of snails with bacon jam made me hungry. His prize- to sit at judges table. Awesomeness ensues!

So now battling it out for the bottom three, Ashley, Jesse and Robin. I thought Robin should go home just for being such a spaz in the kitchen. She makes me nervous just watching her cut celery. So Jesse ends up going home .. ahh no big loss there. I think its pretty evident who the front runners in this competition are.

Now we are on to the elimination challenge. The chefs pull knifes, on each knife a protein and a sauce. Classic french dishes..and it was evident that once teams we set who the top 4 would be. With Jen and Michael V. on a team and Bryan and Mike "Sexy" Isabella on a team I think we know how this will turn out.

The food looked amazing and I would have given my pinky finger to sit at this table with this caliber of chefs. Seriously amazing. A deconstructed Bernaise with trout. YUM!!!! I guess thats why my Brother Volt Bryan got the win, and a prize of working with Joel himself. Kudos Bryan.. well done. Although I think the prize should have went to both on the team. Sexy Mike Isabella looked pretty pissed not to get to partake in his win.

Mattin sucked it up. He is french, therefore a Veloute should have been an easy win for him. He really should have shined in this challenge. I'm sorry to say but he should have been the one going home.

In the Bottom, Ashley and Mattin (team rainbow), and Hector and Ash. Hector butchered some meat very badly, Ash's sauce disappeared on the un-rested meat, and team rainbow just made a piss poor dish. Who is going home.. Well apparently bad cutting techniques are enough to send you home.

Hasta la vista Hector! I must say in my opinion you shouldn't be packing your knives..yet!

Après observation de cette exposition j'ai très faim! Bon Appetite!

Its Wednesday... you know what that means

Wow. I can't believe its already Wednesday again. I look forward to Wednesdays if only for the sheer joy that is Top Chef. After watching repeats of this past episode of Top Chef I can't help but be more and more in favor of "the brothers Volt". I mean seriously could they BE any cuter?!? Bryan has the most adorable brown eyes and his brother Michael with those arm tattoos. YUM! *Sexy Alert*. Well that's enough gushing until I get to Michael Isabella later in the show.

Quickfire Challenge! Secret Ingredient: the infamous Potato. What will these chefs make.. if it was me I gotta say I would probably want to work with the Yukon Gold Potatoes...my favorite.. the God of all Potatoes. YUM! Jesse was heavy handed with her cayenne pepper in her soup, Ashley with all her water drama makes a gnocci that looked great, "The Brothers Volt" both have pretty solid dishes, Jen makes steamed mussels with blue potato and lemongrass potato sauce (looked delish). My sexy friend Mr. Isabella stands in all his sexyness next to a "middle of the road dish". The winner of the quickfire who earns the right not to be eliminated...JEN...AGAIN! Go Girl... Girl Power.

Next on to Nellis Air Force base to cook for the men and women who put their lives on the line for America every day. Really a very touching challenge. Everyone has great attitudes as they try to cook for the masses. The contestants all pair off in the smaller teams. Michael of "the brothers volt" makes a delicious pork belly on a crispy romaine heart. Looks lovely and I'm sure tastes lovely as well. Bryan makes a delicious NY strip with demi while the Atlanta boys (Eli and Kevin) make a tribute to the South with a great looking potato salad served beneath pulled pork. A dish I would LOVE to sample. In my opinion the people who will most likely be on the bottom, the makers of the corn chowder (jesse and the Hatian), and Preeti with her farfalle pasta salad. The pasta salad looks like something my dog could make (and I don't have a dog). Obviously its a challenge to cook in this kitchen without proper room to work and equipment, but C'est la TOP CHEF! Jen with her immunity takes charge of the kitchen keeping everyone on track and I think she did a great job. She's one to look out for.

The chef's set up the buffet and serve the 300+ members of the Air Force.

Winner of the challenge............Michael Voltaggio. B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!!!!!! In another twist.. Cocky McHottie Mr. Isabella is in the top 4 and the bottom 4 (that will teach you to not go the extra mile and make a 2nd dish( but that's ok .. Still Sexy). AHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously I am cowering in my living room at the thought of him going home. This competition needs him. AHHH!!!!! Please don't send him home. Also in the bottom, the makers of the Pasta salad.. I'd love to see Preeti go home.

The verdict is in...going home tonight..Preeti!! Yeah thank you judges.

Another great episode of Top Chef.. I am satisfied...until next Wednesday.

Battle of the Sexes on Top Chef

Ahh.. another Wednesday and another episode of Top Chef. I must say that I am extremely thankful that I didn't make it on Top Chef. After seeing some of the challenges I am positive I would have been booted off last week, and that just would have been sad. This week I decided to write this blog as I watch the episode. My hopes are to be right there along with the judges. Do we share the same opinions???

In the quickfire challenge the contestants rolled the dice and whatever number they rolled was the amount of ingredients they were allowed to use ( minus salt, pepper and oil). Without tasting I can't be sure of what was great, however I will say Michael V.'s Nitro Gazpacho looked simply delicious. Maybe some of that is because Todd English was the one tasting it. Sexy Alert!!! In other news, I am loving this season if just for the fact that all these guys have sexy arm tattoos.

So Michael V. beats out his brother for the $15,000 quickfire win.

Now we are on the Man vs. Woman Elimination Challenge. I will go as far to say that I think some of these women look like they should be on the men's team. I mean lets be honest ladies...make-up IS allowed in a kitchen.

So the challenge is to pair 3 shots with 3 dishes. Men on one team, Women on the other. Looking at just the table set ups for the two teams, I feel like the men have a leg up. The women keep thinking they are looking good, but honestly I don't think their food is on the same level.

Highlights from the ladies - watermelon carpaccio looked Ok (i thought it was a little too simple, and in my opinion that thai lettuce cup looked pretty good even if hot Todd English thought it was nonsensical.

And the Boys - Michael V. makes an apple sorbet (risky) with a goat cheese cookie (YUM) and Kevin made an almond soup with king crab. Both dishes are something I could eat the crap out of. Bryan makes a guacamole with corn nuts.. yes please! Mike Isabelle lends his sexy body to make an arctic char which falls flat ...but thats ok.. hes still hot.

If I have to choose whose food I'd like to eat I would choose the boys food.. and more specifically Kevin's almond soup or Bryan's guacamole.

The brothers volt are in the top 4 and (drum roll)...Bryan takes the win. I smile.

Bottom girls .. Eve, Pretti, lip pierced girl, and Ashley. I think Pretti or Eve is goin' home. Am I right??? Its Eve. Thank you judges...this girl was so ditsy I'm happy to see her go.

On a side note I would like to thank my DVR for allowing me to watch, pause and fast forward Top Chef in order to present you this blog. Until next week.

First Chef Impressions

Its that time again. Most people look forward to a new season of their favorite sports team. But me .. I look forward to a new season of Top Chef. You may remember last year I posted a blog about last season. A blog where I predicted who would win Top Chef after seeing only the first episode. So now its a new season and time to make my predictions for who will make it to the finale.

So here we go..
Lets start with talking about the first episode. The first quickfire challenge was a relay race to see which team of contestants could first shuck 15 clams, peal 30 prawns, clean 5 lobsters and then butcher 2 chops from a prime rib. The first team to finish all 4 legs of the race would win. So the teams all start and it is just embarrassing to watch as 2 contestants can't open a clam to save their lives. One girl cuts the crap out of her hand while another girl can't even get past 6 clams. Her team didn't get to go anything since she couldn't get the clams shucked. I must say I am highly surprised that her team wasn't screaming obscenities at her.

Next the winning team gets to take their ingredients they just cleaned and each must make a dish. The winner wins $15,000 dollars. NICE!

Jenn makes a clam ceviche with a citron vinegar. In my opinion visually is didn't look that great but... She has worked for/with Chef Eric Ripert so my instincts tell me she is better than most are thinking.
Mattin- the cute French, neckerchief wearing chef makes a poached lobster with bay leaf and star anise. It looks beautiful.. but apparently the flavor fell short.
Jesse makes a lovely looking shrimp and grits.
Last but not least Bryan produced a rib eye with caramelized celery, which seems pretty decent from where I sit.

The winner....Jenn with her ceviche. Girl Power. I like Jenn because A.) shes a woman cooking hot food and just schooled a room full of guys. B.) because on the first day of the meet and greet other chefs kept asking her if she was a pastry chef. Which if you aren't a pastry chef is a huge diss.. People often think girls can only cook pastry and not Hot Food.

Now its elimination challenge time.

All the chefs have to do is cook whatever they want and try to link it to a vice the chef has...ie.. Drinking too much is my vice...i'm making a drunken pork tenderloin.

So here are some things that go down... man puts steak in a deep fryer:( girl works with mysterious gluten vegan substance and makes a awkward chili relleno, and a lot of overcooked seafood.

Top 4 - Kevin from Woodfire Grill (down the street from where I work), Ron (aka the Hatian), Michael Isabelle the hottie,and Jenn ..Again.:) ..So Kevin takes the win.

Here are the predictions of whom will make it to the grand finale...

Final Three - Jennifer Carroll, Kevin Gillespie and Bryan Voltaggio
But not to dismiss his younger brother Michael and Mattin (moi amie fracais).

My prediction of cocky hottie - drum roll please- Michael Isabelle (he reminds me of Stefan). And I love it.

All in all a great start to the seasons and it looks to me like there is a lot of talent. Will my predictions hold.. we will see.

So tell me, who do you think will take the title of top chef?

Top Chef 10pm Bravo tv. tune it.

A Little Out Of Touch

Sorry for the long delay friends, blogging has simply gotten away from me. So lets try and catch up. I have had the flu for the past week so I have gotten caught up on all my television requirements. So here we go...

First I would just like to say the Top Chef Season Finale is looming and there are only 4 contestants left.. Three of which I predicted would make it to the finale. So I just wanted to point out how freakin awesome I am! I am rooting for the Europeans.. go Stefan and Fabio! Tune in Wednesdays on Bravo at 10pm for new episodes.

Secondly... American Idol has selected its top 36. My favorites so far are.. Adam Lambert..aka guy who wears eyeliner, Danny (the widower), his best friend Jamar ( who I know got kicked off but my predictions tell me that he will be back as a wild card), Anoop and the dueling Pianos guy Matt. So those are my picks.

In other T.V. news Grey's Anatomy is getting better and better and I am loving the fact that Izzy Stevens is sick and I can't wait for the moment when Derek finally proposes to Meredith.

YAY for TV.
I Will try to be more present on my bloggings.

Too quick to judge

Last week was the start of a new season of Top Chef and I started out by selecting the chefs that I thought would make it to the finale. I would like to apologize to Fabio ... he is defiantly one of the strongest competitors and I failed to include him in my top picks. So I am rectifying that right now. "Fabio I am picking you to make it to the end!" , there I said it. If you do not know Fabio well ... Fabio is the guy who speaks in a fantastically thick Italian accent and in addition to his good looks and cooking talent he seems to be a team player. For those of you who do not watch top chef...well you should, and next week the chefs will be cooking for the Foo Fighters in a special Thanksgiving challenge.

Top Chef Wednesday!

"I'm not your bitch, Bitch!"
-Dave Martin (Top Chef Season 2)

Here it is folks, the long awaited 5th season premiere of TOP CHEF taking place in New York. So my favorite thing to do is to pick the person who I think will make it to the top chef finale and then pick out the people that will make a total asshat of themselves. Sad to say that girlie from Atlanta got kicked off in the quickfire challenge, not even making it to the elimination challenge. The characters on this show are insane. From Finland dude arguing what a vinaigrette is to Charla who is lets her "spirit guides" show her which ingredients to use and then the blond good looking guy (jeff) who announced that he carries a comb in his pocket and asks his busboys how he looks. So here we go .. Will Tom Colicchio get a culinary boner this season? Lets hope so.

So here are my picks for the finale.

HoseaStefan (also gets my vote for asshat)So we will see how this season unfolds. I must say it was nice to see Jean-George on the show as a judge (one of the best chefs in New York). But I will be more excited when Anthony Bourdain makes his appearance.

-Auf Wiedersehen